Work

Lyre sign – Where schwannoma mimics a carotid body tumour

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Nerve sheath tumours of the sympathetic chain are extremely rare and present a diagnostic challenge. A 42-year-old female presented with asymptomatic left cervical swelling. Imaging with sonography, CT, MR and angiography demonstrated a lesion splaying the carotid bifurcation, the lyre sign. Following surgical excision, histology revealed a schwannoma. Imaging features of carotid body tumours and parapharyngeal schwannomas can be similar, as both can cause splaying of the carotid bifurcation. The differential diagnosis of such tumours and their management are discussed. Contribution: This article highlights another cause of the lyre sign on radiological imaging besides carotid body tumours.

Source: South African Journal of Radiology

DOI: 10.4102/sajr.v29i1.3072

Authors: Fatin N. Sahar, Hilwati Hashim, Norliana D. Mohamad Ali, Masaany Mansor, Yin P. Wong

Institutions: Universiti Teknologi MARA System, Universiti Teknologi MARA, National University of Malaysia

Language: English

Topic: Neurofibromatosis and Schwannoma Cases

Subfield: Neurology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4409835138

FWCI: 2.241

Cites: 9

Cited by: 4

Related to: 10